Wrench.



No. 844,905.l PATENTED FEB. 19, 1907.

J. R. YOUNG. i

WRENCH.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.12, 1905.

Snowdon Jflzmy, wi Eneoz e JOSEPH R. YOUNG, OF MICAVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA.

WRENCH.

Specication of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 19, 1907.

Application filed August12,1905. Serial No.v273,932.

To all whom it may concern,.-

Be it known that I, JOSEPH R. YOUNG, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Micaville, in the county of Yancey and State of North Carolina, have invented new and useful Improvements in Wrenches, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to improvements in wrenches of the sliding-jaw type, being designed to permit ready and practically instantaneous adjustment.

The main object of the present invention is the production of means whereby the wrench is automatically locked in holding position upon the application of pressure to turn the nut.

The invention will be described in detail in the following specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in Which- Figure l is a perspective view of a wrench constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same, the handle being in longitudinal section, illustrating particularly the means for locking the sliding jaw with relation to the fixed iaw.

Referring to .the drawings, wherein like letters of reference indicate like parts throughout the several views, my improved wrench comprises a shank 1 to the upper end of which is secured the usual fixed jaw 2, which may be of any preferred form.

rl`he handle 3, which is preferably of a size and contour to provide for convenient grasping, is formed with alongitudinally-arranged slot 4, opening through the top and one side of the handle and terminating within the plane of the handle adjacent the opposite side and bottom, thereby providing a side wall 5 and bottom wall 6 for the slot. The shank 1 is secured within the handle by positioning its lower terminal within the slot 4, the side edge and bottom of the shank resting squarely against the side wall and bottom wall of the slot. Rivets 7 in any desired number are passed transversely through the handle and through the shank, securing the shank against movement within the handle.

The forward edge of that portion of the shank located within the handle is formed with a series of serrations or'teeth 8, which are practically coextensive with the length of the handle and are operative in a downward direction-that is, the operative face of the teeth are so located as to resist the downward movement of a member formed with cooperative teeth.

The sliding jaw 9 of a contour to cooperate with the fixed jaw 2 is formed at its inner end with a shank-receiving opening 10, the dimensions of which, in a direction transverse the length of the jaw, are such as to closely and slidably embrace the shank, while in a direction longitudinally of the jaw the opening is of greater extent than the similar dimension of the shank, whereby rocking of the sliding jaw is permitted in one direction, though prevented in the transverse direction.

A locking-bar 11 is secured to and depends from the sliding jaw 9, being secured thereto forward of the shank l and being slightly less in length than said shank. The locking-bar is ractically equal in sectional dimension to the shank, being thereby of a width to be snugly received within the slot 4 of the handle. Thelower end of the lockingbar is formed with a series of teeth 12, arranged to coperate with the teeth S on the shank, the arrangement being such that when the teeth 8 and 12 are in cooperation a downward movement of the sliding jaw is prevented.

In operation the sliding jaw is slightly inclined with relation to the shank to disengage the teeth on the locking-bar from the teeth on the shank, in which position of the parts the sliding jaw may be manually adjusted to engage the nut or other article to be manipulated, whereupon the pressure incident to turning said nut will force the sliding jaw to assume its normal position parallel with the fixed jaw, and thereby force the. teeth on the locking-bar into holding engagement with the teeth on the shank, effectively locking the sliding jaw with relation to the fixed jaw.

The shank and locking-bar may be slightly offset in curved planes above the handle proper, whereby to provide for the more ready engagement of the teeth.

The wrench described, it will be noted, comprises but three independent parts, each of which may be cast integral and readily and quickly assembled to provide a completed wrench. It will be further noted that the locking-bar is integral with the sliding jaw, thereby materially strengthening this part of the structure.

It is to be understood that the teeth on the IOO locking-bar and shank are to be in such number as to provide for any desired adjustment of the wrench.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim is- A wrench comprising a shank having a fixed jaw, a handle secured to the lower end of the shank and formed with a slot to receive the shank, the walls of the slot extending laterally beyond the shank, a sliding jaw formed with an opening to receive the shank, said opening being of greater length longitudinally of the jaw than the similar dimension of the shank to permit a tilting movement of the sliding jaw relative to the shank, a locking-bar iXedly secured to the sliding aw beyond the plane of the opening, said bar depending from the jaw and positioned at all times Within the slot in the handle, the proximate edges of the bar and shank being respectively formed with teeth adapted for engagement, the walls of the slot in the handle extending beyond the shank a distance in eX cess of the transverse dimension of the locking-bar, the relative size of the opening in the sliding jaw and the shank being such as to prevent movement of the locking-bar from between the Walls of the handle-slot under the eXtreme movement of said locking-bar permissible in the tilting movement of the sliding jaw.

In testimony whereof I ailiX my signature in presence of two witnesses.l

JOSEPH R. YOUNG. 

